Why HELLLLLooooooo there, stranger!!!

I was quite horrified when I saw that it has been EXACTLY one year since I've posted on this blog!! HOLY CRAP! lol

Last year was a rough year....my dad was diagnosed with Stage III lung cancer (Thank GOD he is doing well right now!)....I changed jobs and went back to night shift nursing in the NICU. God Bless it I love those babies...but my body cannot work the mother truckin' night shift. But now....NOW thank GOD I've got a regular day schedule, life is good.
I held my monthly stamp class in June and it was FABULOUS to get back together with my friends and make some cards! So I have a lot to post! :D

But mostly.....look at the blinkie to the right of your screen....you see it? Understand Blue's UNWIND retreat that will be held before Stampin' Up's convention next Wednesday, July 16th! If you're going to be in Salt Lake City and want to learn some FUN crafty stuff, then sign up today! Space is limited!!!

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

Open House and Open Stamping!! SQUEEE

I'm getting ready for Stampin' Up's Convention next week and starting my swaps....and am opening up my home for Open Stamping if anyone wants to come by and stamp with me!

This is also an opportunity to pick up your FREE copy of Stampin' Up's annual catalog (if you haven't already received it in the mail) and to peruse what retired stamp sets I still have available for sale!!

Dates and times are on my Stampin' Up Calendar www.darthsunshine.stampinup.net

Hope you can come! :D

Lots to SQUEEE about!!

The new Stampin' Up catalog is here and it is the best catalog EVAH in my opinion....I love it! In my 9 years with Stampin' Up it is by far the prettiest and most creative catalog yet!

Shop online 24/7 on my website www.darthsunshine.stampinup.net

AND for the month of July, you can sign up for only $99!! This is a special kit for customers who may have been stamping who have the basics and want to get started as a Demonstrator. Click HERE for more details...

The added bonus if you sign up in July is you and I both will receive this special Christmas Keepsake project kit...a $40 value!

How about a card?! I HAVE been stamping!

I did direct to paper technique with the NEW IN COLOR stamp pads--Calypso Coral, Pool Party and Lucky Limeade...then stamped the surfboards from Summer Splash (Summer Mini catalog) and the sentiment is from Sunny Fun (Summer Mini catalog).

Stampin' Up's convention is next week! Lydia and I fly out next Wednesday for 4 days of fun and inspiration and NOM NOM NOMs! I can't wait!!! SQUEEEEE!!

 

What I've been working on...

Wasn't I going to post pictures yesterday? Um...yeah...that's my illness manifesting itself...it's called Procrastination.
First,there's my swap for convention....which I modeled off a color challenge swap with my Upline--using Bravo Burgandy and my favorite 1st-new-stamp-set-from-the-new-catty: CIRCLE CIRCUS (LOVE it!!). It's not a color I would chose to use...but it helped me get out of my comfort zone and I ended up really liking the finished product:

So....for convention I was going to use all new IN COLORS, but when Irealized I had 3 full spools of Real Red ribbon decided I should go with the black/red/grey combo....which I'm loving!

NEXT is the Shoebox Swap I'm participating in on Monday afternoon. I decided to do a "Squash Book" or origami-fold mini album. For this project we're using In Colors--Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry and Pumpkin Pie. My first sample (and picture) I used Sahara Sand, Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze.

Now I need to get off this computer and finish assembling the In Color Version of my squash book. I work Saturday night (12 hr shift--I'm an RN in a L&D unit), so really need to finish all this hopefully before I need to go to sleep Saturday morning (in about 5 more hours!) GAH!

Convention is coming!!!

I can't believe Convention is almost here! Has it really been a year! w00t!!!!1
My friend and recruiter, Kimberly Stallcup and I fly out to Salt Lake City on Monday, August 3rd, and will return on Sunday, August 9th. I'm taking my camera and plan to post pictures of FUN STUFF during the week.

I was going to have a Stamp-A-Stack class this week....but the time just got away from me, and I'm putting together the Shoebox Swap project our pre-convention activities....then there are the SWAPS I'm making! I'll post a picture of my swap--I decided to use REAL RED since I had 3 full spools of red ribbon! It's pretty cute! I promise I'll share--pics will be up tomorrow night.

Stampin' Up! Convention update!!!

OH MY GOSH!!! I had soooo much fun at Stampin' Up!'s convention in Salt Lake City last week! I got home on Sunday and had to take a nap! hehe

Here's a photo of our group on the last day of convention!

(I'm in the back row-3rd from the right).
I'll post more stuff in a bit--I'm having a OPEN HOUSE for the new catty release on August 11th! More details to come...